Made it to DL10 in 25% less turns than my previous attempt, but with less than 1/2 the XP. Equipment is comparable, that is to say, nothing special.

I spent most of my GP on treasure detection before descending, and found a few more in the dungeon. My lack of healing potions is becoming a concern of mine esp. vs. my first trip, which at this point I had 17 CSW's and then some.

I had to use a charge from the staff of power to kill Brodda after I stupidly hasted him with the wand of wonder, else he certainly would have killed me.

Reached DL20 in twice as many turns and with 4 more CL's than previously thanks to an early found rod of treasure detection which seems to be keeping my diving to a much more survivable pace.

I've yet to use a melee weapon (or find a decent one) and have yet to come across any arrows for my often enchanted bow. The lack of healing potions has sorted itself out. In the second ring slot I'm swapping a ring of the dog and a ring of escaping and it's working out great. The lantern of brightness has made torches obsolete.

The activation on the ring of ice, that I relied so heavily on in my first attempt, I completely forgot about this time around. Around DL15 or so an errant keystroke prompted me to "Activate which item" which alerted me to my stupid long standing oversight.

The tin rods are a mystery to me, I've zapped then innumerable times in various situations but I can't figure out what the heck they're good for. I'm waiting patiently for another staff of ID I suppose.

Picked up the pace a little and reached DL30 in only slightly slower than previously, thanks in part to some sloppy play necessitating a couple of deep descents.

All in all this lich is in much better shape for this depth even if it took him a little longer to get here. I've got the basic resists covered. The ring of CON (ditched the ring of the dog) adds about 30 HP, that's my get out of jail free card. Also picked up a teleport level.

Still no arrows for my bow, and no sling for my {ego} shots. My first artifact got left behind because every ounce of burden is precious and it just wasn't good enough to keep.

Going down faster than I'd like. You know your game has taken a turn for the worse when you find yourself fleeing down stairs more often than not. My situation is further complicated by the fact that the levels I am able to survive on don't yield much.

I did pick up a pair of boots of speed (+4). Despite excessive treasure detection, I still (what level am I on) haven't found any source of illumination. I've a strong feeling that will eventually lead to my death.

Still no arrows... or sling. On the plus side, I'm not in danger of running out of light or food.

The 40's were very hairy. A lot of slow, methodical play and even then I got lucky a few times... gravity hounds, an ancient green dragon, and two bouts with paralysis... all survived.

The improvements to my kit are innumerable. Staffs of magi and speed and recharged power. Big boost to stealth. Weapons with FA, regen, and ESP. Armour with rConf. Even a rod of TO to supplement the wand.

Despite all the improvements making survival easier, killing stuff is still a chore. HP's are weak and damage output is minimal. I've no idea how to kill high HP enemies let alone uniques.

I'm quite proud of myself for making it this far. For as easy as the early game was, I'm paying the price now. This lich is playing like a low-offense mage. Thank goodness for all the stealth.

No big vaults yet, an just a couple of little ones (DL50). Still no arrows though I am finding a lot of shots.

On 31.1.2011 10:57 Gorbad wrote:I'm not likely to surpass this... another attempt which died today did make it to Master Lich, and dlvl 20ish but again never found Trap or Treasure Detection.

I've turned myself into a full caster, not that it's making un-life any easier. Ditched the ring of ice, the ring of damage, and the ring of CON+5, and now wear two rings of INT (+3,+4) bring my max SP up to 193. Dispel monsters is my bread and butter, often more cost effective than nether bolt or death orb against a single target since the later two get resisted by almost everything.

I've three sources of ESP now, not that it matters. Lost the staff of the magi to a fire bolt. I'm in the process of upgrading my selection of bolts into balls (rods). If you're wondering why I still carry these, it's because they still account for a helavua lot of my ranged damage.

NETHER BOLT and DEATH ORB both SUCK! Once you reach a certain depth just about everything is either evil or undead, leaving the lich powerless but to run away. I don't know when my next evolution occurs, but I need some new spells badly. Teleportaion is getting way to risky, and I've already been way too lucky.

I should part ways with the Beaked Axe of Theoden, but I do like the (seldom used) activation, which is kind of sad.

On 3.2.2011 17:07 Gorbad wrote:As soon as you get STR/DEX enough to get 4 or 5 blows with a light weapon you should be able to play as a careful mage/rogue.

I assume you are forced to spend your ammo whenever you find it?

On 4.2.2011 04:19 buzzkill wrote:...and such a weapon I have just found. Now to start re-kajigger my kit to cover the defender traits and and to optimize damage output. A ring of acid would be sweet.

Improvements include the Ring of Tulkas and an amulet of trickery, both from a minor vault on 70. Both the speed and the additional HP, which are finally above 300, will come in handy.

Though certainly not a melee powerhouse, his hand to hand ability is finally respectable and when all else fails, he can always 'dispel' stuff to death... which is loads of fun in pits of all types.

I finally managed to uncurse the 'cursed armour' that I cursed myself, and also ID'd the scroll of 'curse weapon' so I won't have to deal with that. Upgraded the bow (just a little) and even managed to find some fairly ordinary ammo. No close calls lately.

Yet another crash negated the draining of my TO's... but then they got drained again. I'm beginning to wonder why I'm carrying CCW's. I never really used them, even before I knew heal (300). I would kill for a rod of ID.

On 11.2.2011 04:41 buzzkill wrote:DL85. I've achieved a few 'first evers'. I found my first ever ring of power and 'dispelled to death' my first ever dragon pit thanks to immunity to cold (and acid and electricity too). The list of items when all was said and done went on for three pages. Picked up boots of speed +10, and ID'd half a dozen unknown flavors, but not a whole lot else. Still no rod of ID, but picked up 3 additional rods of TO and ditched the wands. Also ditched the CCW.

I'm feeling end game strong. It's going to come down to staying alive that long and having enough big healing (though 'heal' and a boatload of 'restore mana' may do the trick).

On 11.2.2011 20:07 pampl wrote:Depending on your perspective, you might want to beat Morgoth before 45... archliches have passwall, which will make you absurdly more powerful, perhaps to the point of feeling sorry for that lovable grey P.

On 12.2.2011 17:13 buzzkill wrote:I was wondering if I was ever going to get passwall... and me beating M is far from a sure thing in any case. I'm really not that good at this game (and I never play ironman).

DL88. Went out on a limb for a staff of ID and encountered Tselakus sleeping (I never did get the staff). I was at full power so I poked him and the battle ensued. Down 1 * he summoned, so I grumbled and phased away. Down 2 *'s he summoned again, this time worse, so I said screw it and teleported away. I was standing on the stairs about to descend when he appeared in the corner of my screen. He has passwall {smacks forehead} and was all alone now. I beat him to death with the mace of disruption. He summoned twice more (in a corridor) but I TO'd the worst of them and ignored the rest. He dropped a nice Iron Crown that I think I'll wear for the rest of my un-life.

On 14.2.2011 03:07 buzzkill wrote:DL89. Killed a few big dragon uniques (IMO) and have my eyes on a vault but don't know how successful I'll be considering all the big dragons that have been summoned and still roam the level. Teleport is getting very risky. I suppose I could banish, but what fun is that.

On 14.2.2011 18:07 bulian wrote:Good luck closing it out. That crown is amazing. It looks like you could possibly let Tulkas go and use RoS instead.

On 15.2.2011 15:21 buzzkill wrote:DL89 finally complete. 13 uniques killed. 6 artifacts found. Moving on quickly (I hope) to Sauron now. Passwall does make things easier, but there's not much time left to finish this and not winning doesn't seem to be an option anymore. I feel like I'd be letting you guys down.

On 15.2.2011 23:38 Nick wrote:You've got the comp won - take your time and win the game.

On 16.2.2011 03:37 buzzkill wrote:I'm now convinced that passwall is broken, disallowing monsters to do anything more than engage in melee while the player is standing in a wall. This unbalances the game completely and I abused it quite a bit before I realized it wasn't just dumb luck.

I'm content to let this character stand on his own merits at this particular point in his life (CL46/DL89). If I were to post anything beyond this it would be heavily influenced by passwall abuse.

I did reach Sauron, traversing the last 10 levels with no problems whatsoever, and was handily beating him to death when I decided to call it quits. There's no doubt that I could beaten both Sauron and Morgoth, but I've no desire to do so any longer.

On 16.2.2011 11:47 LostTemplar wrote:Btw Morgoth probably can destroy wall, you are standing in and then probably do some damage. Nice win.